Wounded raptors wobble into prime time

The NFL Network probably regrets scheduling tonight's game in prime time.

Conventional wisdom assumed that the Eagles and the Seahawks would be alive for the postseason at this point, but both teams barely have a pulse. At 4-7, both are in the nigh-impossible position of needing to win the rest of their games to reach 9-7 and have even a slim hope of a wild card berth.

Neither team appears capable of pulling it off.

Both teams overhauled their rosters in the offseason, and both have been much less than the sum of their parts.

The T-Jacking of Seattle's offense continues. Coach Carroll continues to entrust the car keys to the Vikings castoff for reasons few can fathom. Tarvaris Jackson, who typically rests his torn labrum early in the week, practiced every day and appears set to start. T-Jack's toughness continues to impress, but the team would be better served with a healthy Charlie Whitehurst under center.

The Seahawks continue to run the ball effectively, and they need to continue to do today, to compensate for bad quarterbacking and butterfingered receivers, and to keep the ball away from the potent Eagles offense.

We have now lost our two starting wideouts. Sidney Rice is on injured reserve, and Mike Williams has evidently forgotten how to catch.


We need the rest of the receiving corps to step up.

On the other side of the ball, Philadelphia features a wide-open offense that will test Seattle's young, banged-up cornerbacks and linebackers. The loss of Mike Vick has not grounded the Eagles offense. Backup Vince Young threw for 400 yards and rushed for 40 more in a losing effort against New England last week. (Andy Reid may be the greatest quarterback coach in the history of the game.)

The 12th Man has a house to defend and a reputation to reclaim. Seattle fans allowed the Skins to silence them at critical junctures last week. After scoring a touchdown, Washington tight end Fred Bryant mockingly put his hand to his ear, as if to say, "I can't hear you." I hoped for sonic retribution, but none was forthcoming. When opposing players openly taunt the crowd, it is safe to say the 12th Man and Seahawks Stadium have lost their mystique.

Let's get it back tonight.